Frequently Asked Questions on Human Rights-Based Approach

“Political” challenges in development“Poverty reduction is a fundamentally political objective: relationsof power, access to State resources, Government policy priorities,legislative frameworks, and even constitutional guarantees mayneed to be transformed if there are to be enhanced opportunitiesfor the poor to secure livelihoods, enjoy access to State servicesand become less vulnerable. Even if poverty reduction is notnecessarily a zero-sum game, there will inevitably be winners andlosers in the process of change, as vested interests are no longerprotected, discriminatory practices come to an end, and policiesbecome more broad-based and benefit wider social groups.”Clear communication is needed on the distinctive meaningand requirements of a human rights-based approach in allsituations, within the framework of a genuine developmentpartnership. The United Nations and all those involved inimplementing a human rights-based approach must themselveswalk the talk in order to have credibility in policydialogues on these issues.Source: L.-H. Piron and A. Evans, “Politics and the PRSP approach: synthesispaper”, ODI working paper 237 (London, Overseas Development Institute, March2004), p. 4, http://www.prspsynthesis.org/wp237_politics_synthesis.pdf.21 Is a human rights-based approachconsistent with the requirementfor national ownership?Yes. A human rights-based approach draws from internationalhuman rights standards voluntarily subscribed to by thecountry in question. United Nations development agenciesand other “subjects of international law” are legally boundto respect, and operate within the confines established by,the international legal obligations voluntarily entered into byStates, including those relating to human rights.States parties to the international human rights treatiesare required to harmonize their national legislation withthe international standards. Accordingly, national constitutionsacross different legal systems increasingly reflectnot just civil and political rights but also economic, socialand cultural rights. To this extent, the fundamental humanrights objectives expressed in the Charter of the UnitedNations—the foundation for all United Nations-supporteddevelopment activities—are consistent with and groundedwithin the principle of national ownership.Nevertheless, a human rights-based approach is sometimesviewed with suspicion as an external conditionalityor the latest development fad or donor import. These concernsare often voiced in good faith, although sometimesthey may mask a desire to avoid human rights obligations.21